Hosiery-donning device



Sept. 17, 1968 A. BERLIN 3,401,856

HOSIERY-DONNING DEVICE Filed Dec. 28, 1965 x/vmwrae A B E B E I? L I N A TEX/V51.

United States Patent 3,401,856 HOSIERY-DONNING DEVICE Abe Berlin, 2843 W. Girard Ave.,

Philadelphia, Pa. 19130 Filed Dec. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 516,874 6 Claims. (Cl. 223111) This invention relates generally to personal dressing methods and accessories, and is especially concerned with a unique apparatus and method to facilitate the donning of hosiery.

As is Well known, many persons suffering from crippling arthritis, obesity, heart ailments, or other physical handicaps, are unable to bend sufficiently to place hosiery on their feet, without aid.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a hosiery-donning method and device which overcomes the above difiiculties and enable such handicapped persons to quickly, simply and easily don their own hosiery without the aid or service of others.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hosiery-donning device having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is extremely simple in construction, substantially foolproof in operation, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, and which can be economically manufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, and combinations and arrangements of elements and method steps, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view showing a hosierydonning device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view showing an early stage in the procedure of using the instant device;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view illustrating a slightly later stage in use of the instant device;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view showing still a later stage in use of the hosiery-donning device;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view showing a final stage in use of the instant device; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing an article of hosiery and accessory attached thereto for drawing the article over the users calf.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically t-o FIGURES 1 and 2 thereof, the hosiery-donning device of the present invention is there generally designated 10, and includes a trough 11 and handle means or strap 12.

The trough 11 may be fabricated of plastic, or other suitable material, and may have at least one end open, being illustrated as having both ends open, at 15 and 16. In practice, the trough 11 may be of generally U-shaped crosssectional configuration, being provided on its upper side with upper longitudinl edges 17 on opposite sides of the upper trough opening. The trough 11 may be of substantially constant cross-sectional configuration throughout its length, and may be of circularly arcuate configuration, substantially defining a chordally truncated cylinder.

The trough end 15 is necessarily open, for purposes appearing presently; and, remote from the trough end 15, proximate to the trough end 16, there may be attached the handle means 12. If desired, the handle means 12 may comprise an elongate generally U-shaped strap or flexible element 20 having its opposite end portions 21 connected to opposite sides of the trough 11 adjacent to the trough end 16. In particular, the strap end portions 21 may each be secured, by any suitable means, to the trough 11 on opposite sides thereof, adjacent to respective longitudinal edges 17.

In operation, the user may engage an article of hosiery 22, see FIGURE 3, over the trough 11, by inserting the open trough end 15 inward through the open end of the article of hose. Such insertion should be continued until the closed end or toe 23 of the article of hose is located across the trough end 15, with the upper side of the article of hose over the open upper side of the trough. Of course, this may be accomplished without the user bending over. The thus assembled trough 11 and hose 22 may be placed on the floor, and the users foot 24 engaged downwardly and forwardly through the open upper side of the article of those toward the trough end 15.

When the assembled trough 11 and hose 22 of FIGURE 3 is placed on the floor, the distal end of the strap 12 is held by the user. After insertion of the users foot 24, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, the strap 12 may be drawn rearward, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, and thence upward as shown in FIGURE 6, to extend the hose up the wearers leg 25. Continued movement of the trough 11 withdraws the latter from the article of hose to leave the hose in place on the wearer.

In employing the hosiery-donning device 10 of the present invention with long or high stockings, as at 26 in FIGURE 7, an elongate flexible drawing element or strap 27 may be connected to the open end of the stocking for drawing the latter upward beyond the wearers calf, and over the knee, if desired. At opposite ends of the drawing member or strap 27 there are advantageously provided quick-releasable attachment means 28, such as conventional garter stockingholders, or other suitable securing means, as desired.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a method of donning hosiery, and apparatus therefor, which fully accomplish their intended objects and are well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hosiery-donning device comprising a relatively stiff elongate upwardly opening trough having at least one end open and adapted to receive therein the foot of a user, and handle means extending from said trough remote from said one end for grasping by a user, whereby an article of hose engaged over said one trough end is placed on the users foot by withdrawal of said trough to pass the foot through said one trough end.

2. A hosiery-donning device according to claim 1, in combination with drawing means for detachable connection to the open end of an article of hose, for drawing the latter upward beyond the users calf.

3. A hosiery-donning device according to claim 1, said trough being of generally constant cross-sectional configuration throughout its length.

4. A hosiery-donning device according to claim 1, said handle means comprising a generally U-shaped member having its ends connected to opposite side of said trough adjacent to the other end of the latter.

5. A hosiery-donning device according to claim 1, in combination with an elongate strap, and attachment means on at least one end of said strap for detachable connection to the open end of an article of hose, for drawing the latter upwardly beyond the calf of the user.

-6. A hosiery-donning device according to claim 1, said PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HOSIERY-DONNING DEVICE COMPRISING A RELATIVELY STIFF ELONGATE UPWARDLY OPENING TROUGH HAVING AT LEAST ONE END OPEN AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THEREIN THE FOOT OF A USER, AND HANDLE MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID TROUGH REMOTE FROM SAID ONE END FOR GRASPING BY A USER, WHEREBY AN ARTICLE OF HOSE ENGAGED OVER SAID ONE TROUGH END IS PLACED ON THE USER''S FOOT BY WITHDRAWAL OF SAID TROUGH TO PASS THE FOOT THROUGH SAID ONE TROUGH END. 